Loose leaf binder with spring biased hold-down bar

ABSTRACT

A loose leaf binder having a base upon which a stack of paper is positioned. A hold-down bar contacts a marginal edge of the paper stack and spring means connected to the hold-down bar clamp the paper stack against the base.

United States Patent Stecklow LOOSE LEAF BINDER WITH SPRING BIASED HOLD-DOWN BAR 4 [72] Inventor: James P. Stecklow, 507 Caxton Bldg, Cleveland, Ohio 44115 [22] Filed: March 5, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 16,778

[52] US. Cl. ..402/69, 402/48, 402/53,

[51] Int. Cl. ..B42f 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..402/69, 48, 51,52, 53, 501

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 583,244 5/1897 Bohner ..402/51 701,928 6/1902 Parkes ..402/52 2,285,525 6/1942 Lotter ..402/48 51 Aug. 15, 1972 2,876,021 3/1959 Potts ..402/69 A 1,227,740 5/ 1917 Bissell et a1 ..402/5 2 149,118 3/1874 Harwood ..402/69 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 24,451 1905 Great Britain ..402/48 Primary Examiner-Jerome Schnall AttorneyClarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson [5 7 ABSTRACT A loose leaf binder having a base upon which a stack of paper is positioned. A hold-down bar contacts a marginal edge of the paper stack and spring means connected to the hold-down bar clamp the paper stack against the base.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUB 1 5 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 Q Sim Fig .3

James R Steak/0w INVESTOR.

BY waorizw.

and

LOOSE LEAF BINDER WITH SPRING BIASED HOLD-DOWN BAR- The present invention relates to loose leaf binders.

The present invention is a modification of my device disclosed in US. Pat. application Ser. No. 853,762, filed Aug. 28, 1969. This prior application discusses the advantages of the present type of loose leaf binder as opposed to conventional types. Although my previously conceived device operates satisfactorily, the presently disclosed binder ofiers the advantage of more secure clamping action of a hold-down bar against a stack of paper.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partial top plan view illustrating the displacement of the hold-down bar forming a part of the third embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 14 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The binder illustrated in these figures includes a solid rectangular base 12 for mounting a stack of loose leaves 14 having oppositely disposed and confronting square shaped notches 16 extending inwardly from the lateral marginal edges of the stack. The notches formed in the paper are the only apertures formed therein. Thus, the paper utilized in the present device does not include the conventional two or three holes that are easily torn after being subjected to extended use. A hold-down bar or retaining means 18 overlies the top portion of the paper stack and extends between the notches 16 formed in the stack. Brackets 20 are connected at opposite ends of the hold-down bar 18, the brackets extending inwardly to vertical housing assemblies generally indicated by reference numeral 22 that have springs therein for biasing or urging the hold-down bar 18 against the paper stack.

Considering FIG. 2, the details of each housing assembly 22 will be seen to include a lower hollowed section 24 engaged at the bottom end thereof to base 12 by means of a rivet 26. Aperture 27 through which the rivet passes is elongated thereby allowing sliding displacement of the housing assembly in an outward lateral direction (indicated in phantom by 28) which facilitates insertion and removal of sheets in stack 14.

In order to achieve this displacement, the fastener 29 which connects the hold-down bar 18 to the bracket 20 is removed so that the housing assembly 22 is free to be displaced.

As FIG. 2 illustrates, vertical slots 31 are formed in the confronting sides of the lower housing sections 24. An upper disposed sleeve 30 is positioned in telescoping relation to the lower section 24 and includes a vertically elongated slot 32 in registry with the aforementioned slot 31 to allow entry of the bracket 20 into the interior of the housing assembly. A vertically elongated slot 34 is formed on the opposite side of the upper section 30 and a rivet 36 fastened to the lower section 24 passes through this slot 34 thereby guiding vertical displacement of the upper section 30.

A-bolt 40 passes through the upper side of section 30 and passes at the lower end thereof through an aperture 42 formed in the end of bracket 20 which is enclosed within the housing assembly 22. The bolt serves as a central guide for an elongated coil spring 44 abutting the upper side of section 30 at a first end of the spring while the opposite end of the spring abuts a nut 46 which sits atop bracket 20. Under normal conditions, the upper housing section 30 is pushed down until spring 44 is sufficiently compressed to cause hold-down bar 18 to clamp against stack 14. Then, setscrew 38, passing through the upper housing section 30, is tightened into clamping engagement with the lower housing section 24. In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the head of bolt 40 is spaced upwardly from the top of upper housing section 30. When paper is to be removed from stack 14, bolt 40 is turned clockwise until the head engages the top of upper housing section 30. Further clockwise turning of the bolt results in the upward displacement of nut 46 against spring 44 which causes greater spring compression and the lessening of spring force against bracket 20. This loosens the holddown bar allowing paper removal.

The second embodiment 48 of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 5 includes the base 12 and holddown bar 18 for clamping the paper stack 14. The holddown bar 18 and housing assemblies 22 are substantially the same as in the first discussed embodiment. The major difference between the embodiments resides in the utilization of a coiled strap spring 50 in lieu of the spring 44 as seen in FIG. 2. A pin 49 is horizontally disposed between confronting sides of the lower housing section 24 and is adapted to key a first end of the strap spring 50. A cam roller 52 is positioned in lower parallel relation to the pin 49 and is mounted in parallel adjacent relation to a fixed pin 54 mounted to the lower housing section. As will be noted in FIG. 5, an intermediate portion of the strap spring passes through the cam roller 52 and pin 54. The outward portion of the spring 50 extends through the vertical slots 31 and 32 for securement by means of suitable rivets to bracket 20. As in the case of the first embodiment, the fastener 29 secures the bracket 20 to hold-down bar 18.

In order to appreciate the operation of the present invention, reference is made to FIG. 6 which illustrates in phantom an Allen wrench 56 which is inserted into cam roller 52. By rotating the Allen wrench, the cam roller can selectively engage or disengage pin 54. The outward end 58 of strap coil spring 50 is connected to bracket 20 and presses the hold-down bar against the paper stack when the cam roller 52 is loosened. Once suitable engagement between the hold-down bar 18 and the paper stack 14 occurs, the cam roller 52 is tightened to clamp the strap coil spring 50 against the pin 54 for securement.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 and is generally indicated by reference numeral 60. This embodiment includes a base 62 which mounts a rectangular box-like housing 64 fastened in overlying juxtaposition with base 62 by means of rivets or other fasteners 66. The housing 64 includes oppositely disposed strap coil springs 68 that are mounted on vertical mounting pins 70. As indicated by the figures, each strap coil is associated with one end of hold-down bar 18. Considering the left coil spring 68, a

vertical pin 72 is positioned in parallel spaced relation to pin 70 and serves to guide the strap coil spring 68 outwardly from its coiled portion. An intermediate portion of the spring is clamped against horizontally disposed camming roller 74 and mating pin 76. These latter mentioned components are similar in construction and operation to the aforementioned components 52 and 54 as seen in FIG. 5. A slit 80 is formed in the top wall of the housing 64 to allow passage ofa vertical spring section 82 therethrough. The upper end of spring 68 is fastened to an angle bracket 86 by suitable fasteners 84. The bracket 86 in turn is connected to hold-down bar 18 by rivets or other suitable hardware 88. The third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 performs the same function as the second embodiment of FIG. with the difference residing in the location of the strap coil spring. In the third embodiment of FIG. 7, the vertically disposed housing assemblies 22 are eliminated thereby offering a smoother appearance for the binder.

Referring to FIG. 9, the hold-down bar 18 of the third embodiment is depicted in a position displaced from its normal clamping engagement with the paper stack 14. This removed position of the hold-down bar 18 is preferred when paper is to be added or removed to stack 14. Bar displacement is most easily accomplished by loosening the cam roller 74 so that the strap coil spring 82 is free to move with the displaced holddown bar 18. When the stack has finally been fixed, the hold-down bar 18 is once again positioned in clamping engagement with the stack so that the strap coil spring 82 is moved to its retracted condition as seen in FIG. 7. In order to secure proper clamping, the camming roller 74 is tightened.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A binder comprising support means,

hold-down means for retaining a stack of material upon said support means, and enclosure means mounted on said support means for releasably urging said hold-down means upon said material, said enclosure means including housings mounted at opposite ends of said hold-down means, each said housing comprising vertically disposed telescoping upper and lower tubular sections, spring means concentrically enclosed within said sections with an upper end of said spring means abutting said upper section, and means securing the telescopic sections in adjusted position to vary the length of the housing,

a bolt extending vertically through and vertically movable in said upper section and axially mounting said spring, said bolt including stop means to limit downward movement thereof in said housing,

a nut threadably mounted on a lower end portion of said bolt, the lower end of said spring abutting said nut, and

bracket connected to said hold-down means extending inwardly of and vertically movable in said housing for placement underlying said nut, said bracket having an aperture formed therein to allow passage of said bolt therethrough, whereby said spring means urges said nut downwardly against said bracket to effect clamping action of said hold-down means against the material and whereby rotation of said bolt with further downward movement thereof limited by said stop means causes upward displacement of said nut against said spring, relieving said clamping action and enabling removal of the material from said support means.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 including slot means for slidably mounting said enclosure means on said support means. I

3. A loose leaf binder comprising a base, a stack of generally rectangular loose leaves supported on said' base, each of said loose leaves including a notch in each end edge thereof, a substantially rigid bar engaging the upper surface of the looseleaf stack in general alignment with said notches, a pair of independent adjustable means mounted on said base at the end portions of said bar for retaining said bar in clamping engagement with said stack of loose leaves, each said adjustable means extending upwardly from the base through the notches in the loose leaves thereby retaining the leaves in stacked position whereby upward displacement of the bar enables the loose leaves to be removed from engagement with said adjustable means, each said adjustable means including a tubular housing generally corresponding in shape to said notches, a longitudinal slot in said housing, said slots in said housing being disposed in facing relation, means connected at each end of said bar and extending through said slots into the interior of each said housing for guiding vertical movement of said bar, resilient means in each said housing urging said bar toward said base, and means for overthe upper portion thereof and extending through said spring, said bolt including stop means to limit downward movement thereof, and a vnut on the threaded bolt engaging the other end of said spring, said nut being movable upwardly away from said bracket upon rotation of said bolt.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein each tubular housing includes telescopic upper and lower sections, means securing the telescopic sections in adbrackets are detached from the bar.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORREQTIGN Patent No. 3,634,390 Dated August 15, 1972 James P. Stecklow Inventor(s) It is certifiedmhat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Page 1 in the heading delete the address for patentee "507 Caxton Bldg. Cleveland, Ohio 44115" and substitute --8558 Broadview Road Broadview Heights, Ohio 44141".

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of July 197 (SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON, JR. Attesting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents FORM PC4050 (1969) USCOMM-DC some-P69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1959 0-36G-334 

1. A binder comprising support means, hold-down means for retaining a stack of material upon said support means, and enclosure means mounted on said support means for releasably urging said hold-down means upon said material, said enclosure means including housings mounted at opposite ends of said holddown means, each said housing comprising vertically disposed telescoping upper and lower tubular sections, spring means concentrically enclosed within said sections with an upper end of said spring means abutting said upper section, and means securing the telescopic sections in adjusted position to vary the length of the housing, a bolt extending vertically through and vertically movable in said upper section and axially mounting said spring, said bolt including stop means to limit downward movement thereof in said housing, a nut threadably mounted on a lower end portion of said bolt, the lower end of said spring abutting said nut, and a bracket connected to said hold-down means extending inwardly of and vertically movable in said housing for placement underlying said nut, said bracket having an aperture formed therein to allow passage of said bolt therethrough, whereby said spring means urges said nut downwardly against said bracket to effect clamping action of said hold-down means against the material and whereby rotation of said bolt with further downward movement thereof limited by said stop means caUses upward displacement of said nut against said spring, relieving said clamping action and enabling removal of the material from said support means.
 2. The structure as defined in claim 1 including slot means for slidably mounting said enclosure means on said support means.
 3. A loose leaf binder comprising a base, a stack of generally rectangular loose leaves supported on said base, each of said loose leaves including a notch in each end edge thereof, a substantially rigid bar engaging the upper surface of the loose leaf stack in general alignment with said notches, a pair of independent adjustable means mounted on said base at the end portions of said bar for retaining said bar in clamping engagement with said stack of loose leaves, each said adjustable means extending upwardly from the base through the notches in the loose leaves thereby retaining the leaves in stacked position whereby upward displacement of the bar enables the loose leaves to be removed from engagement with said adjustable means, each said adjustable means including a tubular housing generally corresponding in shape to said notches, a longitudinal slot in said housing, said slots in said housing being disposed in facing relation, means connected at each end of said bar and extending through said slots into the interior of each said housing for guiding vertical movement of said bar, resilient means in each said housing urging said bar toward said base, and means for overcoming the urging of said resilient means, said means connected at each end of said bar including a bracket mounted on each end of said bar and extending through and vertically movable in the respective slots, resilient means disposed in said housing and operative to normally bias the bracket and bar toward said base, said resilient means including a coil spring having one end engaged with the upper portion of the housing, and wherein said means for overcoming the urging of said resilient means includes a threaded bolt vertically movable in said housing and rotatably supported from the upper portion thereof and extending through said spring, said bolt including stop means to limit downward movement thereof, and a nut on the threaded bolt engaging the other end of said spring, said nut being movable upwardly away from said bracket upon rotation of said bolt.
 4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein each tubular housing includes telescopic upper and lower sections, means securing the telescopic sections in adjusted position to vary the length of the housing, said lower section of the housing including a bottom wall having a slot therein extending generally parallel to the bar, said brackets being detachably connected to the bar, and including means mounting the housing to the base extending through the slot to enable the housing to be moved outwardly of the notches when the brackets are detached from the bar. 